Helenium plant named ‘Balsaluemb’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Helenium plant named ‘Balsaluemb’, characterized by its medium red and yellow bi-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Helenium autumnale.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsaluemb’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Heleniumplant botanically known as Helenium autumnale and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Balsaluemb’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, TheNetherlands during August 2013. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Helenium cultivars having increased branching anda compact growth habit.

The new Helenium cultivar is the result of open-pollination within aninsect-cage environment of three proprietary Helenium autumnale breedingselections coded D34-1, D34-2, and D34-3, not patented, characterized byvarying shades of red and yellow bicolor, medium green-colored foliage,and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated open-pollination during July 2014 in a controlledenvironment in Hem, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJuly 2014 in Hem, The Netherlands and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsaluemb’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Helenium plant:

-   -   1. Medium red and yellow bi-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;    -   3. Moderately vigorous, and compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parents primarilyin having a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Helenium cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is MARIACHI ‘Bandera’, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 27,397. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Bandera’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets than plants        of ‘Bandera’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color slightly        different from plants of ‘Bandera’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘Bandera’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsaluemb’. The plants were approximately five months old. The plantswere grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in agreenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3 weeks in an open-sidedpolyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one atone week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsaluemb’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsaluemb’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2018 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelysix-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks ina greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 7 weeks in an open-sidedpolyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one atone week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant.Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70°F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60°F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting wasprovided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Helenium autumnale ‘Balsaluemb’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female and male parents.—Proprietary Helenium autumnale            breeding selections coded D34-1, D34-2, and D34-3, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days at            70° F. (21° C.).        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks            at 70° F. (21° C.).        -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium to thin in thickness.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderately vigorous, and compact-upright, vernalization not            required for flowering.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to            −31.7° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 35.0 cm. Width: Approximately 52.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves lateral            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 15.        -   Stems.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to 45° angle. Shape:            Mostly rounded with ridges from excurrent leaves. Length to            base of inflorescence: Approximately 22.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color of            young stems: 146D. Color of mature stems: 146C sometimes            tinted with 187A, becoming woody 200B with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular to stem. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Excurrent to stem. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 5.5 cm with excurrent portion of            approximately 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm in lower node. Width of            mature leaf: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent with short hairs. Color            of upper surface of young and mature foliage: NN137A with            midvein of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 137B with midvein of 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsaluemb’ is a long day obligate, freely            flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from            summer through autumn.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 to 4 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Radiant head. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: None            detected. Quantity per plant: Approximately 77. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short appressed hairs. Color: 146B.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 80. Shape: Globose            becoming dome-shaped. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Depth:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Color: 151A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 12,            occasionally with one or two being underdeveloped.            Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape:            Obdeltoid, fan-like. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Three lobed. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm.            Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent,            slightly longitudinally ribbed. Color of upper surface when            first open: 5A mottled with 46A to 46B, typically only lobes            appear to be yellow-colored. Color of lower surface when            first open: 5B with an underlay of 46A to 46B. Color of            upper surface when fully open: 5B mottled with 46A to 46B,            typically only lobes appear to be yellow-colored. Color of            lower surface when fully open: 5C with an underlay of 46A to            46B.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 210. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Glabrous with densely pubescent            base. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully            open: 13D. Color of lower or outer surface when first and            fully open: 13C to 13D mottled with 46A at tips, base of            155D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 12.            Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Dull. Shape:            Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of            lower or outer surface: Densely pubescent with short hairs.            Color of upper surface: 146B. Color of lower surface: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Anther            color: 13A. Filament length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Filament            color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13B.            Gynoecium: Present on both disc and ray florets. Pistil            quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 0.5 mm.            Stigma color: 13B. Style length: Approximately 2.5 mm. Style            color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary            color: 155D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Helenium plantnamed ‘Balsaluemb’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.